S17·E1 Out of the Darkness

Episode recap

Task: Write a 280-380 word episode recap for NCIS S17E1 (Out of the Darkness).
Constraint 1: Use ONLY verifiable facts from the provided SYNOPSIS and SOURCES.
Constraint 2: No invented titles, names, dates, episode counts, awards, ratings, box-office, or plot points.
Constraint 3: If a detail is not in the material, omit it.
Constraint 4: Write original, neutral, encyclopedic prose in plain text.
Constraint 5: No markdown, no asterisks, no headings, no bullet points.
Constraint 6: Word count target: 280-380 words.
TMDB Episode Synopsis: Ziva surprises Gibbs with a cryptic warning. Gibbs questions why she remained underground for years while being presumed dead by family and friends, and what led to her return.
Source [1]: NCIS (2003) is a TV-14 Crime, Drama, and Action & Adventure series.
Source [2]: Created by Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill. Stars Sean Murray, David McCallum, Mark Harmon, Brian Dietzen. Follows the Major Case Response Team of the NCIS investigating criminal cases connected to the US Navy and Marines Corps personnel and their families.
Source [3]: Season 1 cast includes Mark Harmon (Leroy Jethro Gibbs), Michael Weatherly (Tony DiNozzo), Sasha Alexander (Caitlin Todd).
Source [4]: Mentions NCIS universe, renewals, crossovers, Tony/Ziva spinoff, origins from JAG.
Source [5]: Mentions Sean Murray and Brian Dietzen were recurring in Season 1. Rocky Carroll joined in Season 5.
Episode: Season 17, Episode 1, "Out of the Darkness".
Plot: Ziva surprises Gibbs with a cryptic warning. Gibbs questions her years underground while presumed dead by family and friends. He questions what led to her return.
Series Context: NCIS follows the Major Case Response Team investigating criminal cases connected to US Navy and Marines Corps personnel and their families. Created by Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill.
Problem: The provided synopsis is extremely short (only two sentences). The sources provide series-level information but very little specific detail about Season 17, Episode 1 beyond the synopsis.
Constraint Check: "If the synopsis is sparse, stay concise rather than guessing."
Constraint Check: "Write a grounded 280-380 word episode recap."
Conflict: It is impossible to write a 280-380 word recap using only the provided facts if the provided facts only cover about 30 words of plot.